On Saturday, April 15, The Jackson Hole News and Guidereported that a survey administered by the Teton Backcountry Alliance (T.B.A) was released with the goal of gauging the level and type of winter recreational use on Teton Pass. The Jackson Hole News explains that because Teton Pass sees more than 100,000 ski runs a year, user safety and conflict must be managed better to avoid future potential tragedies.

To help understand and mitigate conflict between user
groups, the survey asks participants to explain their thoughts on issues
ranging from human-triggered avalanches and parking conflicts to uncollected dog
poop. In addition to voicing concerns, survey takers are also asked to provide
input on possible solutions to these issues, like the temporary closure of high-avalanche
danger zones, the institution of new hitchhiking parameters and the limitation
of pedestrian traffic along the Highway 22 corridor during the winter months.

The survey also presents the possibility of better
stakeholder education, with the option to rate the level of importance of
expanding the Teton Pass Ambassador Program, posting better signage and
providing more comprehensive online educational resources outlining proper
protocol for visitors to the area. T.B.A also asks survey participants to rate
other solutions to the dangers of overcrowding on Teton Pass, including a
shuttle transportation service to the top of the pass to potentially alleviate
parking congestion. Other solutions include building a visitor center with
bathroom facilities and constructing snowsheds along avalanche-prone sections
of Highway 22 to keep slides from threatening commuters. T.B.A also poses the option
for a Teton Pass parking permit, the proceeds of which would go to fund an
ambassador program and the proposed bathroom facilities.

T.B.A plans to collect and present survey answers to state
agencies involved with the maintenance and safety of the Teton Pass region. The
survey is anonymous—T.B.A emphasizes participants exclude their names from the
form.

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